Report -George Barnsley & Sons Cornish works, Sheffield June '11

Bespectacled & irrelevant

I'd been wanting to see Barnsley's for quite a while, and I knew it was good, but nothing could have prepared me for just how good it actually is! From the ancient steam powered, belt driven machinery to the endless partitioned wooden shelves, to the dozen or so safes, to the forge, to the endless artifacts spread throughout the maze of a building that contains it all. Everywhere you turn there is something else amazing to see.
George Barnsley's has a real Marie Celeste feel to it, yet it's totally relaxed and peacefull.

George Barnsley & Sons was founded in 1836, although at this time the buisness was listed as being on Wheeldon street. From there it moved in 1849 to Cornhill before finally reaching Cornish street in 1852.
They are listed as making files and tools for leather workers and shoe makers.
It's facinating to follow the buisness through the building, from the cash office at the begining, through the back offices and into the factory itself. First there are rows upon rows of shelves in what must have been the stores and then the actual production areas from the forge to polishing and finishing.
The building finally closed in 2004, but once out of the offices you could easily believe it was much, much earlier.